2013 In Review: Aurora area tragedies claimed four lives

Published: January 31, 2014 2:02PM

Aurora — Tragedy claimed the lives of four people who either lived in Aurora or the incidents occurred in the city in 2013. Three were killed in traffic accidents and one died in a house fire.
Eric O. Hilston, 47, of Aurora was found dead late on the evening of Jan. 25 after his car hit a tree in the 100 block of North Park Drive in the Four Seasons neighborhood.
Police said they found the car had gone off the right side of the slightly snow-covered road. It was damaged on the driver’s side front fender and door, according to the police report.
Hilston worked at Canal Pointe Nursing and Rehab Center in Akron. He graduated from West Muskingum High School and earned degrees from Ohio State University and Indiana Wesleyan University.
Meanwhile, Deborah Vargo Adams, 61, of Brewster Road died several days after a two-car accident Nov. 6 in the 600 block of North Aurora Road.
Police said she was traveling southbound when her car went left of center and struck a vehicle driven by Melanie J. Dundon, 33, of Streetsboro.
Adams was lifeflighted to Metro General Hospital in Cleveland, where she died a few days after the crash.
An Aurora man died in a three-car accident Nov. 29 on Route 8 in Stow, north of the Seasons Road entrance ramp.
Police said a vehicle driven by Daniel Vincent, 34, struck the left rear corner of a semi unit operated by a 34-year-old male from Canton.
Mr. Vincent and the Akron female were taken to Akron City Hospital by Stow EMS. Mr. Vincent was pronounced dead at the hospital and the Akron woman was later released.
An Aurora man died March 6 in a house fire on Route 306. The Portage County coroner’s office identified him as Eddie S. Dilworth III, 73, who was dead when firefighters reached him, according to Fire Chief David Barnes.
Barnes estimated the amount of damage at $90,000, noting fire crews searched the house and found Mr. Dilworth’s body in a rear bedroom that was totally engulfed in flames.
In addition to Aurora, firefighters from Bainbridge, Mantua, Reminderville, Solon and Twinsburg were summoned.